Two years ago, the Department of Transport's Engineering Works Division on the Isle of Mann took the decision to move to Controlled Droplet Application (CDA) products to cut down on chemical usage and the need for disposal of excess, particularly mixed product left in spray tanks.

At that stage, the CDA herbicides were applied via handheld CDA lances.

However, whilst the estate areas were being treated for weed growth, the handheld operatives did not have sufficient time to spray the long stretches of road, including the famous TT course.

In 2004, Hardinge plans to use the KSU earlier in the year and extend the application by spray with Bayer's residual herbicide, Xanadu.

Paul Clifton of Bayer Environmental Science says the decision to use the KSU stemmed from a two-day presentation and training workshop, run with Danny Jones of ALS, for the IOM Council and its operators.

It's fusarium Jim, but not as we know it

The long dry summer followed by mild, wet autumn and start to winter has caused a new problem for greenkeepers - a more virulent strain of microdochium nivale, or fusarium patch as it is more commonly known.

The changes that are taking place in the traditional seasonal make-up have caused instances of a reversion of this common turf disease to its natural state. The effect is that the usual symptoms - orange-brown patches, 2.5 to 5 cm or more across, coalescing to affect large areas - are no longer apparent.

Instead the disease appears as spores on the grass, making identification extremely difficult. Indeed, many very experienced greenkeepers have been left in some doubt as to exactly what this new manifestation is.

Having identified the disease, the problem becomes how to treat it. From reports across the country, it seems that the only product that works is Bayer Environmental Science 's fungicide, Chipco Green.

Obsolete Pesticide Disposal Campaign

Bayer Environmental Science is helping to promote The Voluntary Initiative (VI) campaign for the disposal of obsolete pesticides.

John Hall, Marketing Manager at Bayer Environmental Science advises those responsible for pesticides, "It is important to act immediately to firstly check your chemical store for obsolete products, and secondly to arrange for correct disposal of any unapproved pesticides you may still be storing."

The campaign is intended to make everyone involved in the distribution and application of pesticides, aware of the legal requirement not to use or store unapproved products.

Running until the end of March 2004, the campaign has the full backing of the Health and Safety Executive, who are considering making random checks of chemical stores during the summer of 2004.

According to the VI, providing the necessary steps are taken to follow best practice, and ensure correct disposal, it is unlikely that any action for storing unapproved pesticides will be taken whilst the campaign is running.

Pesticide approval can be checked by visiting www.pestcides.gov.uk. A list of contractors that have agreed to support the Obsolete Pesticides Disposal Campaign can be found on the VI website - www.voluntaryinitiative.org.uk/disposal.